City votes to not pay CBRDC assessment, tables resolution

July 3, 2013

The city of Dunkirk has decided - for now - not to pay its local share to the Chadwick Bay Regional Development Corporation. The Common Council took no action on the CBRDC local share at its meeting Tuesday.

The city had budgeted $6,281.50 to be paid to the CBRDC and a pre-filed resolution was on the agenda.

During his mayoral comments, Mayor Anthony J. Dolce said the payment is made to be a good regional partner throughout the northern part of Chautauqua County.

Article Photos

OBSERVER Photo by Samantha McDonnell The Dunkirk City Common Council decided to table a resolution to pay the Chadwick Bay Regional Development Corporation local share Tuesday night. The Common Council will discuss the matter at its next meeting. Pictured, from left, are: First Ward Councilman Michael Michalski, Second Ward Councilman William Rivera and Fourth Ward Councilwoman Stacy Szukala.

Mayor Dolce feels this will be the last payment made to CBRDC.

"We're doing so in the interest of regionalism and being a good regional partner," Dolce said. "However, as I have stated to council, I feel that this will be our last assessment payment. I feel that we can continue to have these conversations and we will continue to have these conversations. I don't feel it's necessary to continue to pay an assessment to have these discussions."

Later in the meeting when the resolution came up for vote, Fourth Ward Councilwoman Stacy Szukala had questions about the CBRDC. She had concerns because she has heard there are other municipalities which are not willing to go forward and pay their local share for 2013. Second Ward Councilman William Rivera also had questions and did not feel comfortable passing the resolution Tuesday night.

"I just think we need to know a little more. I need to feel a little more comfortable of what we're doing here," Rivera said. "... I think we still have a little bit of time to get our comfortability level where we need it to be and go from there."

Rivera made a motion to table the resolution until the next common council meeting.

Dolce said there is no "hard deadline" for payment but did hear that the city is one of three municipalities who have not paid their local share yet.

First Ward Councilman Michael Michalski said he would like to know where the money is spent within the CBRDC but does support the end result of the organization. He was referred to the organization's website by Director of Planning and Development Steve Neratko.

The common council approved unanimously to table the resolution to find more information. The next meeting will be on July 16 at 5:30 p.m.